Benchmarks

12 November 2015

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Chris Groves

OSCAR Threlkeld believes Argyle should use Millwall’s performance in their midweek defeat as a benchmark for pushing towards League 1 football.

The Lions, recently relegated from the Sky Bet Championship, saw off the Greens in a thrilling 5-3 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat on Tuesday night. Argyle looked to rally back from behind on a number of occasions and caused their opponents plenty of problems – something that Oscar feel the team should take solace from.

“To be fair, Millwall are a good side,” said Threlkeld. “They’re a league above us and doing well in the league.

“For us, it was more of an experience; if we want to go into League 1, that’s the standard that we’re going to have to do, and there are certain areas that we need to work on, as it showed.

“Attacking, we were okay in that game, but the defending wasn’t really at it, as a team. It’s not just the back four – it’s everyone. It is a learning curve for us. To be fair to Millwall, they put the ball in decent areas and they didn’t stop chasing the ball.

“It’s another learning curve, knowing that we can score against bigger opposition. We passed it on the floor, we took players on and showed that we have got the quality to beat higher teams.”

The highlight of the night came from the left boot at Graham Carey, as he fired in an incredible long-range strike in the second half, and the Bolton Wanderers loanee heaped praise on his midfield teammate.

“To be honest, I just leave him be,” said Oscar. “If he’s in space and I’ve got the ball, I’m just going to pass to him every single time.

“He’s a good, quality player, and we’ve got quality players around him, so it makes it easier for him to get on the ball and do what he did on Tuesday. It’s not the first time I’ve seen him do it. If he shoots and he misses, I applaud him, because I know that if he keeps on doing it, one day it’s going in the top corner. Luckily it did on Tuesday night.

“To be fair, I don’t know why I was in front of Graham, but I just saw the ball come straight at me and moving side to side. I could see it going in straight from his boot. It’s one of those goals I won’t forget.”